THE SECOND CLASS OF MASTERS IN CIRCULAR ECONOMY GRADUATED FROM VFU"CHERNORIZETS HRABER"

06 December 2022

The second class of the Master's degree programme in Circular Economy successfully completed their studies at Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar". It trained students with interests in the field of sustainable development and environmental protection, representatives of municipal administrations, non-governmental organizations, entrepreneurs. A large part of them are graduates of Varna Free University and are already working on real projects related to waste-free production. They upgraded their knowledge in an activity that is considered a priority for the European Union - realizing the ambitions of the Green Deal for a digital and environmentally friendly economy. As scholarship recipients of the University's Board of Trustees, the students in the master's programme Circular Economy confirm its leading importance for VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar". The programme is a pioneer in the European Union and is held under the patronage of the European Commission.

As part of the state exam, the graduates talked about their ideas for the practical application of the principles of circular economy.
Vladimir Vunchev's topic on shared electricity was met with particular interest. It was developed based on the use of combined production of green energy from solar panels and wind turbines for domestic use. When the batteries are charged and there is no current consumption, the system stops work. In order not to lose its output, it can be joined by energy-poor users - houses or objects in the neighborhood. In this way, European subsidies can reach citizens directly, is what Vladimir Vunchev believes. He adds that legal changes are necessary to implement the idea.

Dimo Dimov - chairperson of the Municipal Council in Provadiya, presented his thesis on the utilization and increasing the efficiency of construction waste management in the municipality of Provadiya. They are about 1/3 of the total amount of waste in the municipality but the problem is that a large part is disposed of in unregulated landfills. The project would help create a new concept for waste management, he believes. Sustainable waste management, based on modern recycling methods, was also the subject of the graduate student Maria Korichkova.

Victoria Koleva proposed a solution to the problem of biomass remaining after the production of lavender oil. It can be processed into ethanol or fertilizer, which can then be used by farmers in the lavender fields of her native town.

Maria Junlieva proposed the implementation of the mushroom mycelium for packaging in the field of logistics. It is an increasingly popular natural material grown in agricultural waste that has the necessary qualities to mold, and after use, nourishes instead of polluting the soil.

The Master's degree programme Circular Economy at Varna Free University showed that our students are at high level. "I am grateful to the specialists who taught us in this innovative topic for Europe and the world. In our group there were representatives of business and the administration, and I believe that we will all start applying models from the circular economy in real life, so that the world goes in the right direction", commented the graduate Vasilka Duzova.

VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" developed the problematics in the academic profile of the university - from courses for additional qualification, through a sustainably developing master's degree programme and its upgrade to an educational and scientific degree "doctor". In September, the first doctoral degree in Bulgaria in the field of circular economy was defended. In his dissertation work, Dr. Rumen Pehlivanov - Mayor of the Municipality of Rudozem, presented an integrated model for managing the transition from a linear to a circular economy of the municipalities of the Rhodope region - Rudozem, Madan, Devin and Borino.
Some of the masters from the second graduating class of the programme have already expressed their desire to continue their studies in the doctoral programmes of the University.
The admission of students to the master's degree programme Circular Economy for the summer semester of the academic year has begun. Application forms are accepted until February 15, 2023 at https://magister.vfu.bg/ or at the university.